Had Abdul Razzaq not been dropped at backward point on 26, the day’s highlight of a first first-class hat-trick for Jimmy Ormond could so easily have put Surrey on course to achieve their ninth consecutive championship victory at Guildford. That let off allowed the Pakistani all-rounder, in partnership with wicketkeeper David Nash, to lead Middlesex to the safety of 346 for eight

Razzaq, batting with a runner after injuring an ankle on the first day, went to his fifty in 81 deliveries as the seventh wicket pair added 155 in 42 overs and two and a half hours. Nash, who took 84 balls over his half-century, survived until the close after seeing Abdul Razzaq go to a magnificent catch by Ian Ward at mid-off and Ashley Noffke depart to a skied caught and bowled.

Earlier, Andrew Strauss and Sven Koening had got the visitors off to an excellent start, sharing in their second three-figure stand of the summer against the defending champions. The form Strauss is in could well put him in contention for a Test place following the fractured finger sustained by Marcus Trescothick at Edgbaston yesterday. Like the Somerset opener, the Middlesex captain is a left-hander. But, more pertinently, he has so far made 909 runs at an average of 56.81 in this season’s County Championship.

Koening, driving, was eventually caught behind for 42 off Alex Tudor who bowled economically, in more than one sense, as he operated off a shortened run-up. But Andrew Strauss and Owais Shah continued to move things along nicely until Ormond, whose opening eight-over spell had cost 42, conjured up six balls to remember.

Surrey’s Twenty20 Cup final hero took the wickets of four left-handers in the 38th over, including his maiden first-class hat-trick, as Middlesex slumped from 163 for one to 165 for five, which then became 165 for six when Martin Bicknell accounted for Shah with one that he got to shape away perfectly.

Strauss, who earlier in the day had passed a thousand first-class runs for the season, made 87 in 122 deliveries before becoming Jimmy Ormond’s first victim, when the ball appeared to keep low. Just three balls later Ben Hutton, a centurion in the corresponding fixture at Lord’s, fell to an outstanding catch down the legside by wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty. Ed Joyce was powerless to survive a shout for lbw next ball and Paul Weekes was similarly non-plussed when Ormond rounded off his hat-trick by clipping the top of the 34-year-old all-rounder’s off stump.

Jimmy Ormond became only the third Surrey bowler to claim a first-class hat-trick at Guildford; and, with the others being Jim Laker and Pat Pocock, the first seamer to pull off the feat within the leafy surroundings of Woodbridge Road.

The day began with the former Leicestershire man posting his highest score for Surrey, helping to add 89 for the last wicket Saqlain Mushtaq, which beat the club record for the tenth-wicket at Guildford held previously by Robin Jackman and Geoff Arnold, who combined for 68 against Hampshire back in 1977.

However, by the close Middlesex had edged to within 65 of Surrey’s first innings total. Everyone will be hoping that this seesawing contest will not be consumed by the rain forecast to descend on Guildford today.

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